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“Ambode Has Performed, I Commend Him”- Buhari

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Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday commissioned the remodeled Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, the world class Oshodi Transport Interchange and the 820 high and medium capacity buses for public transportation, stating emphatically that State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode performed satisfactorily.

President Muhammadu Buhari with Governor Ambode at the Commissioning of Lagos Theatre, Oregun, Ikeja

Buhari, who commissioned three impactful projects at well-attended ceremonies said he was delighted to unveil the projects as they aptly reflected the drive and success of government in pursuing policies and programmes that will positively impact on its citizen.

“Earlier this morning, I commissioned the Ayinke House of the Institute of Maternal and Child Health and also the Lagos Theatre in Oregun.

 

“Your Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has performed satisfactorily and we should all commend him for his contribution to the growth and development of Lagos State,” the President said.

President Buhari said the coming on board of the projects had clearly demonstrated the need to continue to provide high impact projects for the development of infrastructure and opportunities for job creation at all levels, just as he said that the development was in sync with the efforts of the Federal Government to improve infrastructure especially in the transport sector.

Lagos Theatre, Oregun

“To complement Oshodi Transport Interchange, the Federal Government has recently approved the reconstruction of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway up to Oworonshoki and Old Toll Gate which was last attended to 40 years ago.

“We have recently commissioned the new International Airport Terminals in Port Harcourt and Abuja, as well as the rail lines from Abuja to Kaduna. The Lagos to Ibadan Rail Line is under construction. Our government will continue to prioritize high impact infrastructure which will vastly improve the lives of our people,” he said.

The President also seized the occasion to thank Lagosians for their support at the 2019 general election, recalling that it was his second working visit to Lagos in the last one year.

In his remarks, Governor Ambode thanked the President for his direct influence and support towards the projects which made it a reality, saying that it was on record that the State has never enjoyed such measure of support from the Federal Government as it had done in the last four years.

He said the Murtala Mohammed Airport Road and the U-Turn Flyover would be open for public use immediately, while the two flyovers would be open for use from May 10 after the quality assurance work is completed.

Governor Ambode said the Terminal 3 of the Oshodi Transport Interchange will become fully operational on May 1, while Terminals 1 and 2 would become operational by the end of May.

He said that the projects were part of his administration’s promise to deliver people-oriented programmes and projects, saying that the development plan of the State has been positively affected through the projects, including the Maternal and Child Health Centre, popularly called Ayinke House, which the President commissioned earlier in the day.

“In our promise to deliver people-oriented projects and programmes, a closer look at all the projects indicate that nearly all the different pillars of our development plan as a State have been affected positively through these projects. The Institute Of Maternal and Child Health at LASUTH contributes to our health and education sectors simultaneously.

“The Lagos Theatre, Ikeja is about our Social Development Sector while the Oshodi Transport Interchange and Buses come under our Transport, Infrastructure and Commerce sectors. The Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road is an Infrastructural Development project.

“All these projects together form the thrust of our vision as a government and the end result is to make life better for all our people, irrespective of gender, tribe or political leanings,” he said.

He said his administration invested the second tranche of the Paris Club refund, in addition to the refund by the Federal Government on Federal road projects executed by States to the construction of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road and the Oshodi Transport Interchange, the first of its kind in Africa, while the first tranche of the Paris Club refund to States approved by the President was utilised to pay the 40 per cent down-payment for the 820 buses.

“This is our report card, Mr. President. We have used your approval and releases judiciously because we believe strongly in you, in your leadership and in your vision for our country. This is our modest contribution to the growth and development of our State and to the country in general.

“Mr. President, we believe strongly that the projects being commissioned today are our own modest contributions to the national development of Nigeria. As I said earlier, these projects would not have been possible without Mr. President’s quiet but impactful decision to approve and release the payments of the Paris Club refund and the refund on Federal Road projects incurred by the States,” he said.

Governor Ambode said he was fully optimistic that with the coming on board of the projects, the future prosperity of the State is secured, saying that the level of investment in the last four years in strengthening the social and physical infrastructure base of the State were becoming evident in all sectors of the economy.

“With the completion of these projects and given the level of commitment of the next administration as well as the continuous support of the Federal Government, I am assured that the immediate and future prospects of our State is very bright.

“Mr. President, Lagos State will continue to support your aspirations to move Nigeria to the Next level. The business community in the State are desirous of partnering with your government in moving our economy forward,” he said.

The President, after the commissioning, went on a bus ride with dignitaries to tour the facility and also drove through the remodeled Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road.

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Again, Atiku Addresses Nigerians, Insists Tinubu’s Devoid of Coherent Plan, a Novice

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Former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has again written on the woes of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, saying the president is bereft of coherent plan to run the nation.

The Waziri Adamawa made this position, and made others known in a statement he personally signed. He noted that from every decision Tinubu has taken since Assumption of Office, it’s obvious that he is a novice.

The former Vice President wrote:

I have taken note of the initial responses highlighting the striking disparity between President Tinubu’s faltering economic policies and the alternatives I have proposed. It is exciting to witness such a vigorous debate on these critical matters, and I sincerely hope that this discourse will ultimately benefit Nigeria and its citizens.

Like many fellow Nigerians, I firmly believe that we find ourselves in this current economic turmoil due to the Tinubu administration’s hasty ascent to power, devoid of a coherent plan.

In stark contrast, my team not only devised a comprehensive Recovery Plan, but also welcomed significant input from Nigerians, ensuring that our approach was inclusive and well-considered.

Isn’t it fascinating how the so-called “tested” Tinubu administration’s only policy response seems to be a national prayer led by the First Lady and the NSA? Just a mere 24 hours after I proposed my alternative solutions! What a bold strategy! 🤣

In my humble interpretation of the scriptures, prayer indeed serves as a noble path to follow. However, the sacred texts also counsel us to engage in diligent labour and hard work.

It is therefore uncharitable for Tinubu’s team to claim that my proposals remain untested. What remains unproven is the erratic, trial-and-error nature of the policies so far implemented by this administration, which elucidates our present predicament.

Let us not forget that under our economic stewardship between 1999-2003, Nigeria soared to the pinnacle of Africa’s economies, while their administration has relegated us to a disheartening fourth position.

The average GDP rate under the Obasanjo administration that I served in was 6.59% and peaked at 15% in 2002; 7.98% under the late Yar’Adua administration and 4.8% under Jonathan compared to the dismal 2.8% of the so-called “tested” Tinubu era. Enough of the pains of the shambolic “bolekaja” economic policy prescriptions!

We cannot hope to tax our way out of the economic quagmire wrought by these misguided experimental policies of a novice administration. Numerous nations, such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Monaco (an EU territory with a zero-income tax policy), among many others, have emerged as economic powerhouses by fostering growth through lower taxation. Why then are we fixated on inflicting further hardship upon an already struggling populace?

One can only speculate that Tinubu’s government is anchored to a mere Tea-plan, which can only lead to a T-pain.

Furthermore, let me emphasize that the citizens who cast their votes in the 2023 presidential election are well aware that I did not lose; rather, we find ourselves in this predicament because the election was criminally stolen from the Nigerian people.

Atiku Abubakar
Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (2023)
Abuja
4th November, 2024.

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Mrs. Onikepo Akande: Celebrating an Achiever @80

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Eric Elezuo

The Convention Centre of the Eko Hotel and Suites was a melting point of some sort recently when the who’s who in South West politics and industry thronged the arena in honour of one of Nigeria’s distinguished public servants, Chief (Mrs.) Onikepo Akande, as she celebrated her entry into the octogenarian club.

Among a list of the high class personalities that gave the gathering a touch of excellence were Her Excellency, the Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefilure; Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Aare Dele Momodu; Former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; publisher, Guardian Newspapers, Lady Maiden Ibru; Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka, Hajia Bola Shagaya, former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his wife; Senator Daisy Danjuma, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, Pastor Siju Iluyomade, CEO, Biscon Communications, Prince Bisi Olatilo; Erelu Abiola Dosunmu and many others.

Clad in the best of attires as the event lasted, the elated Otun Iyalode of Ibadanland and former Minister of Mines and Industry, was a gracious sight to behold as she welcomed invitees and special guests of honour.

THE WOMAN, ONIKEPO AKANDE

Formerly Onikepo Adisa, Mrs. Onikepo Akande (OON CON) was born on October 29, 1944 in Lagos. She is an economist, accountant and industrialist, who served as the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and honorary life Vice-President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.

A native of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nike is the first of four children of a royal family. She had her secondary school education at Queen’s School, Ede (now Queen’s School, Ibadan) after completing her basic education in Ibadan. She holds a B.Sc. in Accountancy from the North-Western Polytechnic (now University of North London) after graduating in 1968. She is also an alumni of the Harvard Business School and the International Institute for Management Development.

An accomplished traditional practitioner, Nike holds the title of “Ekerin Iyalode of Ibadanland”, a traditional chieftaincy position in her homeland. She is married to Chief Adebayo Akande, a business magnate and owner of Splash FM, Ibadan with whom she has children.

She is a renowned industrialist and economist, described by former President Goodluck Jonathan as “an inspiration”. A board member of Union Bank of Nigeria and PZ Foundation, she also serves as the Director of the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Industrial Development Bank.

Not done with finding her worthy to serve on various fronts, on December 8, 2015, Nike was appointed Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria, succeeding Chris Ezeh. She was appointed as the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on December 5, 2015.

At her investiture, the wife of the then President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, said of her that Nigeria needs nothing less from a two time minister as she pledged a vibrant private sector. The then outgoing President of LCCI, Mr. Remi Bello, also considering her pedigree, said ‘she’s bringing rich blend of public, private sector experience to bear on LCCI’, a trust she had not failed ever since being the second woman president of the organization in its 127 years of existence.

In her speech at the event, Mrs. Akande did not leave anyone in doubt as regards where her priority lies. This is espoused as follows:

“We need the private sector to generate employment to address the acute and frightening unemployment, poverty and insecurity in our society; we need a virile private sector to make Nigeria a respected country in the comity of nation.

“We would not relent in our advocacy to promote a conducive environment for the private sector to play the role expected of it in the realisation of the Nigerian vision.”

That is the kind of passion she has to see that the average Nigerian is well catered for and given the good he deserves.

A peep into her life and times showed that she was appointed Minister of Industry, Federal Republic of Nigeria in December, 1997 and re-appointed to the same Ministry in August, 1998. This made her a two-time Minister of Industry under different administrations. She was the first Nigerian woman to become Minister of Industries. This was not surprising to many who knew her as a strong believer in the philosophy that industrialization is the key to economic development, poverty alleviation and eradication, as well as employment generation.

At an event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1998, she was awarded the African Federation of Women Entrepreneur Award. In 2003, she was conferred as an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). Nike is also a recipient of the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) since 2014.

A seasoned business administrator and accountant, she has evolved in the near two decades as noteworthy industrialist in the economic landscape of Nigeria.

Many boardrooms have been graced by the presence of this amiable accomplished woman. She had been the Director of Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB), a member of the Board of Trustees, of the National Center for Women Development; member, panel to study and re-organize both the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Trust Investment Company Limited Ibadan; Director of National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria (NICON).

Mrs. Akande is not the type to come to office without leaving a mark of positive affection on both the office and the people. One of her major achievements in office was the revamping of the Onigbolo Cement Company, a Nigeria-Benin Republic joint venture to its present level of profitability.

She also particularly emphasized the adoption and revitalization of Industrial Development Centres (IDCs) across the nation, to support and help the informal sector operators in Nigeria in order to boost industrial productivity.

In December 1998, she broadened Nigerians Industrialization effort by successfully signing an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Romania and Bulgaria – a co-operation which Nigeria is still benefiting from till today.

A fulfilled person, she said this of herself, “I am a fulfilled and happy person. That is why I always smile because I thank God. I have a special song which I always sing: ‘Elo ni mo san, fun Oba ogo, elo ni Jesu mi gba, fun ore re lori mi’.”

Recollecting what gave her the impetus to aim so high, and achieve so much, she said: “Being the first child, leadership was thrust at me when my mother died. I used to take her place during the extended Aboderin family meetings where I sat with big people. I’ve always been ambitious and as a child, my mother hired a private teacher for extra-moral classes for me. One day, he was talking about the death of a Minister, Bode Thomas then. I was interested in the story, and I told him I would be a minster in this country someday. When I became a minister, he came to look for me at the ministry to remind me of this.”

She believes that winning is a product of niceties: “To win in life, you have to be nice to people and help them as much as possible. Moreover, I am still contributing my quota to the development of Nigeria. I was at Queen’s School, Ibadan to see the principal sometime and I saw that the administrative block was not looking nice. I promised to do something and being on the board of PZ Foundation, I requested help for my alma-mater and they constructed a brand new administrative block.”

Her pedigree is endless, and that is why she is worthy of the boss of the week. Happy 80th Birthday ma!

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Tinubu Appoints Gen Oluyede As Acting COAS

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, as the alActing Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said in a statement on Wednesday that Oluyede will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed Taoreed Lagbaja, the substantive COAS.

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